Gheghamyan: Armenia Has Already Made Concessions in 2021, While Turkey is Repackaging What Previously Existed

Turkologist Varuzhan Gheghamyan writes: “From the very first day of the current phase of negotiations between Armenia and Turkey, the Turkish side (both the military-political leadership of Turkey and Turkish and Azerbaijani media) regularly speaks about establishing air connectivity between Yerevan and Istanbul. Moreover, if we carefully follow the context in which these statements are made, we will notice that the Yerevan-Istanbul flights are presented not only as a Turkish step towards Armenian-Turkish 'friendship' and 'peace' but also as a demonstration of goodwill from Turkey towards us. Naturally, the news about the flights is also presented in a similar style by the de facto authorities of Armenia and the media resources under their control.

Unfortunately, it is around this that domestic political processes are unfolding, getting entangled in discussions about the origins of place names and other meaningless topics. Meanwhile, the reality and the political issues arising from the flights, which deserve our attention, are as follows: Regular flights between Armenia and Turkey have been operated for many years, which were interrupted at the onset of the coronavirus in the winter of 2020. Prior to that, the Turkish airline Atlas Global had an office in the center of Yerevan, which ceased operations in February 2020. In other words, what the Turkish side is presenting today as goodwill and a concession towards Armenia was actually available without any preconditions. Therefore, presenting this not as a new step by Turkey but simply as a repackaging of what existed before.

Furthermore, this is extremely advantageous for the Turkish side from a business perspective (those who are aware of Istanbul Airport's transit ambitions will understand what I mean). Moreover, the de facto authorities of Armenia have already made concessions by opening an air corridor for Azerbaijan through Syunik in October 2021, effectively providing an airborne corridor. At first, they tried to conceal this, and later it was revealed.

It is necessary to remind that the land borders between Armenia and Turkey are closed and there are no relations because Turkey has decided to blockade Armenia. I repeat, it is Turkey, not Armenia. Therefore, the only agenda for negotiations without preconditions should and can be the complete lifting of Turkey's blockade of Armenia. In return, Armenia has no concessions to make. This is the political essence of the matter. There is no other political issue, and this should become the focus of questions directed to those responsible for the 'peace agenda' with Turkey.

The image shows Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, where our compatriots will arrive upon landing in Istanbul. Sabiha Gökçen was Turkey's first female pilot, adopted by the founder of Turkey, Atatürk, after the Armenian Genocide. According to popular belief, on this day, January 19, 2007, Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was murdered in Istanbul because he had previously published an article in the 'Agos' newspaper revealing the Armenian origins of Sabiha Gökçen (born Hatun Sebilciyan). Thus, upon arriving in Istanbul, the first thing an Armenian person will encounter is directly connected to the Armenian Genocide and its denial.